Sam Antonacci's walk-off two-run single in ninth lifts White Sox over Guardians 6-5

CHICAGO (AP) — Sam Antonacci had a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the ninth inning after Cleveland scored twice in the top half to take the lead and the Chicago White Sox beat the Guardians 6-5 on Monday night.

Rookie Braden Montgomery drew a one-out walk off Cade Smith (2-1) to start the White Sox rally and Tristan Peters followed with a double. Smith struck out pinch hitter Jacob Gonzalez before Antonacci delivered Chicago's sixth walk-off win of the season, tied for most in the majors.

Chicago (40-37) snapped a three-game losing streak and pulled into a first-place tie with Cleveland (41-38) in the AL Central. The Guardians have lost 11 of their last 16 games.

Cleveland scored three runs off reliever Glenn Taylor in the seventh to tie it 3-all and spoil a strong start by Anthony Kay. The left-hander retired 10 in a row before walking Kyle Manzardo with two outs in the sixth. Kay struck out Gabriel Arias on his career-high 101st pitch to keep it 2-0.

Randall Grichuk gave Chicago a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth with his eighth homer — a leadoff pinch-hit shot to left field off Tim Herrin after starter Gavin Williams struck out eight and allowed two runs on five hits in five innings.

Taylor loaded the bases in the seventh before surrendering a pinch-hit two-run single to Kahlil Watson. Rhys Hoskins' RBI single tied it 3-3 before Bryan Hudson entered and struck out Manzardo to end the inning.

Rookie Travis Bazzana drew a leadoff walk from Seranthony Domínguez to start the ninth before a steal and a wild pitch landed him on third. Patrick Bailey singled to tie it and Manzardo added a sacrifice fly off Chris Murphy (2-0) for a 5-4 lead. It was the fifth blown save in 17 opportunities for Domínguez.

White Sox catcher Kyle Teel went 0 for 4 and struck out three times in his first game since injuring his hamstring while playing for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.

Guardians LHP Parker Messick (7-3, 2.70) starts Tuesday opposite White Sox RHP Sean Burke (4-4, 3.89).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cleveland Guardians' Patrick Bailey, left, scores past Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel, right, during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Chicago White Sox's Sam Antonacci watches his two-run single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Chicago White Sox's Sam Antonacci, right, celebrates with teammates after he hit a two-run single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Chicago White Sox's Sam Antonacci, center, celebrates with teammates after he hit a two-run single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Chicago White Sox pitcher Anthony Kay delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, June 22, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — After Lionel Messi scored two goals to set the World Cup record and Kylian Mbappé kept pace in the career chase, Erling Haaland delivered another dazzling performance on a showcase day for the tournament's top stars.

Haaland scored twice for Norway in the first 15 minutes of the second half of a 3-2 win over Senegal on Monday night, making up for clanking a shot off the post and getting denied on a header just before halftime. His performance came hours after Messi scored two for Argentina and Mbappé did the same for France.

Roughly a month away from his 26th birthday, Haaland is showing he can keep up on a team without the same pedigree or championship history.

“He is the best striker,” coach Ståle Solbakken said through an interpreter. “He is not playing for France or Argentina. He scores for Norway.”

The three have combined to score 13 goals in the World Cup: five for Messi and four each for Mbappé and Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot, which Iraq coach Graham Arnold predicted will be a very good competition.

“It’s easier to win the Golden Boot when you play for France and Argentina,” Solbakken said. “But we’ll try to give Erling more games and more help in the next games.”

Messi became the World Cup’s career scoring leader with 18 goals when he and Argentina beat Austria in Arlington, Texas. Mbappé is now at 16, tied with former record holder Miroslav Klose, after he and France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia.

Playing in his first World Cup, Haaland is at four. Norway last qualified in 1998 — two years before he was born.

“I’m part of something special,” Haaland said. “Norway’s part of something special. We’re making history.”

The 6-foot-5 Manchester City striker has now scored in 12 consecutive competitive matches for Norway. He has 24 goals over that stretch, and the last time Haaland did not score for Norway in a game that mattered was Oct. 13, 2024.

“He’s on fire,” Solbakken said. “I’m very happy for him that he can score on the biggest stage.”

Haaland scored his first goal against Senegal on a 4-on-2 rush, putting behind him the frustration from earlier. After getting his second by banking a right-footed shot off the crossbar and in, he held his left hand up to his left ear to encourage cheers of a large contingent of red-clad Norway fans.

Asked how he was doing it, Haaland struggled for an explanation.

“It’s my specialty to score goals,” Haaland said. “It’s like many other things: I’m just really good at scoring goals, and I’m quite lucky. I don’t know what I’m doing, but yeah. That’s just how it is.”

AP Soccer Writer James Robson in Atlanta and AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/FIFA-World-Cup

France's Kylian Mbappe (10) and his teammates gesture to fans following the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Iraq in Philadelphia, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Norway's Erling Haaland (9) celebrates after scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Norway and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)

Norway's Erling Haaland (9) celebrates after scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Norway and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)

Norway's Erling Haaland (9) celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Norway and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Norway's Erling Haaland, left, celebrates with David Moeller Wolfe after scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Norway and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)